When we mention our plans to return to the US in early March and settle in Philadelphia, the reactions split on predictable lines with family and friends. Europeans say, “Great choice, I love Philadelphia. That’s my favorite US city.” While… Read More ›
Places we’ve been
One Perfect Day: Hydra Island, Greece
I am trying to recognize the sweet spots in life while they are happening, to grab a hold of them, and to file them very deliberately in my brain. We had one of these recently; a single, perfect day on… Read More ›
Komárom, Hungary – Komárno, Slovakia: It’s like a Gershwin song
When I was a kid, my mother would sing old songs. One of my favorites was a Gershwin tune: You like potato and I like potahto You like tomato and I like tomahto Potato, potahto, tomato, tomahto. Let’s call the… Read More ›
Hydra, Greece: An Accidental Hike to the Monastery on Mount Eros
How we ended up at the Prophet Elias Monastery on the top of Mount Eros is still a mystery. As we crossed from Athens to Hydra by ferry, our boat tossed about like a cork in a typhoon while attendants… Read More ›
Why Eger means so much to Hungarians: Geza Gardonyi’s The Eclipse of the Crescent Moon
Mention Eger to a Hungarian and expect some amount of fawning, “You’ll love it, make sure you visit the castle.” My friend, Szabi, told me, “Julie, if you are going to Eger, you must read The Eclipse of the Crescent… Read More ›
The World In Between 